Be Made Whole ~ An Introduction to the 2017 Write 31 Days Series

Though there are still several months left in 2017, I think now is a good time to start reflecting on the year. Those reflections have helped me to conclude that this has been a year of restoration for me. It has helped me to be made whole – or at least more whole. I’m not really sure we can ever be made fully whole here on earth.

I started the year with the word to “decrease overwhelm.” It’s been a popular idea this year. Several books were released, many podcasts produced. All on the idea that we can decrease the stress in our lives.

I think, when settling in with this idea, I missed the broader picture.

Rather than just decreasing the overwhelm in my life, I needed to allow restoration to happen. In order to feel less overwhelmed, I had to come to a place where I understood Jesus better. A place where I understood myself better. And a place where those two things intersected in a wholly beautiful way.

2. It’s not really about us. It’s about what we can do for those around us.

3. When we live out our purpose, we are living the whole life Jesus planned for us.

I don’t know about you, but I know that I want to be a person who reflects the wholeness of Jesus.

I want to feel like I belong, like I am not missing anything. Complete. I want to see the things I think about, live out and dream about come full circle. And I think things finally are starting to come full circle. Things are starting to make more sense than I’ve ever thought possible.

And as those things are starting to flesh themselves out in the pages of my journals, in my mind, and through my daily life, I’m going to share them here. For this years #Write31Days challenge, I’ll be sharing my thoughts, learnings, and insights into being made whole.

To start that journey, we’ll have to backtrack a few years. To the place where everything fell apart for me. Without the introduction to where it all fell apart, you won’t understand the beauty that has become God’s restoration in my life.

The Struggle of the Journey

I recently saw a picture that described the journey of our lives. I can’t share it here because I don’t know where it came from, and I try to be careful with the copyright of photos. But I can describe it for you.

Basically, the top photo was a picture of a man looking off towards the right at a giant hill. The implication was that the goal for this man was to reach the top of the hill. And in order to get there, the man was envisioning a straight line. A path that reached over any obstacles.

Below that initial picture, there was a second. The same man is standing there, still looking off towards the same goal. But the reality for him, rather than taking the straight and easiest path, was a path full of obstacles. Hills and Valleys. Deep pits to climb out of.

We all long for the easy path. The road that is not overwhelmed with trials, difficulties, and loss. But if we didn’t understand the pain of those things, I firmly believe we would not be able to understand the beauty of new life, of celebration and personal victory.

So, this month, I’m going to dive deep into what it has looked like for me to be made whole. I want to be able to share the raw and vulnerable parts of my story from the last four years.

And the reason I’ve decided to share my story this year is that two years ago, I felt the impression on my heart to start writing and sharing my story. I’ve shared this with a few friends, and they’ve all been excited and encouraging me to write my story. But I haven’t sat down to start writing yet. I’ve tried. And tomorrow, you’ll get to see a majority of what I’ve spent my time working on writing.

I’ve felt stuck and without words much of the time. But a few weeks ago, when I was doing my Revelation Wellness workouts, Kara (the instructor) asked a question. “What are you putting off that God has told you to do?”

And it hit me like a ton of bricks. I’d been asked to write my story. And I’ve avoided it completely for the past few years. So, I’m taking some giant leaps of faith this month. And pushing through the fear. And walking in faith.

It’s a scary feeling to know that I’m going to be putting words to the thoughts and feelings that have been swirling through my head. But know these words have been prayed over. This story isn’t always easy. But it’s my story, and it’s time to own it.

Missed part of the 2017 Write 31 Days Series, Be Made Whole? Catch up here!